Electric switch



1929- H. A. DOUGLAS 1,723,683

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1927 6 E273 @faaqgZas Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS, F BRONSON, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC SVJI'I'CH.

Application filed November 17, 1927. Serial No. 233,874.

My invention relates to electric switches and resides in improved means for bringing the complemental contacts thereof into and out of engagement and also in an improved construction of component parts of. a switch.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby a contact carrying bar may be placed in lirln engagement with abutments. At least one of said abutments and preferably each of said abutments is a current conducting contact, the bar being preferably metallic to electrically connect said contact abutments when engaging the same. The bar is providedwvitlra spring pressed carrier with which it is in flexible connection, the carrier being adapt ed to position the bar in a manner to permit the bar to have full engagement with the abutmcnts without being restricted 111 this function by the carrier. At least one and preferably each of the abulments is 1n the form of a metallic spring barrel that is suitably connected in circuit and containing a spring which presses upon the carrier to enable the carrier to apply the bar to the spring barrels. The carrier is desirably adapted to turn, there being a fulcrum which is shi'l'table from side to side to enable the springs to be effective on one side or the other of the fulcrum whereby the springs not only serve to apply the bar to the current conducting spring barrels but also to remove the bar from engagement with the barrels,

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a sectionalyiew illustrating the preferred embodimentof the invention, the switch shown being closed; Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a viewsomewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing in elevation parts that appear in section in Fig.1 and also illustrating the switch in open position; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line -55 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 illustrates the carrier and the contact bar operable thereby in separated relation. i

The switch structure illustrated includes a cup-shaped metallic casing member 1 whose end wall engages the body portion 2 of a mounting plate 3 and has an annular shoulder which is confined between the body portion 2 of the plate 3 and the flange therewith. Said 5 upon the hollow cylindrical extension 6 of the plate. A disc of insulation 7 closes the cup, this disc being held against the rim of the cup by means of clips 8 which enter recesses in the disc and. are clinched over the disc. Two current conducting a but ments 9 and 10 are disposed within the casing, these abutments being desirably in the form of metallic spring barrels having reduced extensions 11, 12 which pass through the disc and which are riveted attheir outer ends against the outer faces of the disc, as indicated at 13. Binding screws 1 .1- serve to clamp current conducting wires 1:) into mechanical and electrical assembly with the spring barrels. Metallic coiled springs 16 are received within the spring arrels as are also the inner ends of the plungers 17 and 18 which are engaged by the springs that press outwardly thereon.

A bar 19 is adapted to have engagement with both abutments 9 and 10, this bar having thereon a current conducting contact eomplemental to each of said abutments. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said bar is metallic throughout, the portions thereon which are engageable with the abutments being integrally formed bar is flexibly connected with a carrier which is preferably inclusive of a metallic plate 20 and a block of insulation 21 which is clinched upon the plate by the' clips 22. Said plate has a rearward extension 23 which is angularly turned at its end where the plate is bifurcated, as indicated at 24. The bar 19 is formed with holes therethrough which receive the bifurcated portions of the plate 20, these portions being brought together after they are passed into said holes, as indicated in Fig. 4, whereby the bar is permanently assembled with its carrier. The holes 25 are sufiiciently large to enable the bar to swivel or have universal movement upon the carrier to an extent which is suflicient to permit the bar to have firm and extended contact with the contact abutments 9 and 10 whereby the bar is enabled to establish effective low resistance connection between said contacts to close the circuit that contains them. It is obvious that the invention need not be limited to a construction wherein both abutments 9 and 10 are current conducting. contacts since the bar 19 may be permanently coupled with one side of the circuit,

as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The block of insulation 21 is formed with flaring recesses 26 which receive the outer,

,round ed, ends of the spring pressed plungers 17 and 18. A handle 27 carries a fulcrum 28, the handle being shown as being pivoted at 29 between its gripping end and the fulcrum. By turning the handle the fulcrum 28 is brought into engagement with the insulating block 21 upon one side or the other of the places where the springs 16 have effective pressure upon said block through the intermediation of the plungers 17 and 18. When the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the springs 16 are effective to turn the carrier to bring the contacting bar into engagement with the contacts 9 and 10. \Vhen the handle 'is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3, the

' "plungers are upon the other side of the fulcrum to enable the springs toreverse the movement of the carrier and the contacting portion 19 thereon to open the circuit.

Changes may be made without departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric switch, the combination with'two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact and one is in the form of a spring barrel; of a spring in said spring barrel; a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; and a carrier for said bar and having flexible connection therewith at a place between said abutments, the spring in the barrel being adapted to press upon said carrier in a direction to engage the bar with the abutments when the bar is in circuit closing position.

'2. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one isa current conducting contact and each of which is in the form of a spring barrel; of a spring ,in each springbarrel; of a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; and a carrier for said barand having flexible connection therewith at a place between said abutments, the springs in the barrels being adapted to press upon said carrierin a direction to engage the bar with the abutments when the bar .is in circuit closing position.

3. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact and. one is in the form of a spring barrel; of a spring in said spring barrel; a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and havin 'a con- .tact thereon complemental' to the a oresaid contact; a carrier for said bar and having flexibleconnection therewith at a place between said abutments, the spring in the barrel pressing upon said carrier; a fulcrum for said carrier; and a handle coupled with the fulcrum and serving to shift the fulcrum from either side to the other of the spring toenable such spring to move the bar into and out of engagement with the abutments.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact and each of which is in the form of a spring barrel; of a spring in eachspring barrel; a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; a carrier for said bar and having flexible connection therewith at a place between said abutments, the springs in the barrels pressing upon said carrier; a fulcrum for said carrier; and a handle coupled with the fulcrum and serving to shift the fulcrum from either side to the other of the springs to enable such springs to move the bar into and out of engagement with the abutments.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact; of a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; a spring pressed carrier for said bar and having flexible connection therewith at a place. between said abutments; and means for enabling the carrier to be moved in opposite directions by the spring pressure thereon.

6. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact; of a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; a spring pressed carrier for said bar and having flexible connection therewith at a place between said abutments; a fulcrum for said carrier; and means for limiting the effective spring pressure uponthe carrier to one side or the other of the fulcrum to move the carrier'to bring the bar into and out of engagement with said abutments.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with two abutments of which one is a current conducting contact; of a bar for separable engagement with said abutments and having a contact thereon complemental to the aforesaid contact; a spring pressed carrier for said bar and having flexible connection therewith at a place between said abutments; and a fulcrum for said carrier movable to opposite sides of the place where the spring pressure upon the carrier is effective to limit the effectivespring pressure upon .the carrier to oneside or the other of the fulcrum to move the carrier to bring the bar into and out of engagement with said abutments.

8. In an electric switch, the combination with a current conducting contact in the form of a spring barrel; of a contact compleinental to the aforesaid contact; and a spring in said barrel, said complemental contact having a fulcrum shiftable to one side or the other of the line of pressure of the spring whereby the spring presses said complomental. contact into and out of engagement with the first mentioned contact according to the position of the fulcrum.

9. In an electric switch, the combination with a current conducting contact in the form of a spring barrel; of a contact complemental to the aforesaid contact; a spring in said barrel, said complemental' contact having a fulcrum shiftable to one side or the other of the line of pressure of the spring whereby the spring presses said complemental contact intoand out of engagement with the first mentioned contact according to the position of the fulcrum; and a switch handle operable upon the fulcrum to bring it to one side or the other of the line of pressure of the spring.

10. In an electric switch, the combination with a current conducting contact in the form of a sprin barrel; of a contact complemental to the a oresaid contact and mounted to turn; a spring in said barrel and serving to press said complement-a1 contact and turn it into engagement with the first contact; and a switch handle operable upon one of said contacts to separate it from the other.

11. I11 an electric switch, the combination with a current conducting contact in the fornrof a spring barrel; of a plunger projecting from said spring barrel; a spring Within the spring barrel and presslng outwardly upon the plunger; a member upon which said plunger is pressed by the spring; a contact complemental to the spring barrel contact, one of these contacts being mounted to turn and rotatable by the spring through the intermediation of the plunger; and a switch handle operable upon the cont-act that is mounted to turn and serving to separate it from the other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

